Building trades supermajority elected to Statehouse

In the midst of a “red wave” crossing most of the nation on election night that generated concern about the impact it will have on unions across America, Ohio voters elected a building trades supermajority in the Ohio State House.

Thanks to the bipartisan coalition sought by Affiliated Construction Trades (ACT) Ohio, there will be a supermajority of elected officials in both the Ohio Senate and Ohio House who support the building trades next year. This is in addition to support from the executive branch, as ACT Ohio endorsed Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who have two years remaining in their terms.

Of the 78 state representative candidates endorsed by ACT Ohio, 75 were victorious. This means 75 of 99 seats (75 percent) in the Ohio House of Representatives in the upcoming termhave demonstrated support for the Ohio State Building Trades.

In the State Senate, all 12 candidates endorsed by ACT Ohio won their races. Combined with the dozen state senators endorsed by ACT Ohio who won in 2022, there will be 24 of 33 seats (72 percent) held by ACT Ohio-endorsed senators in 2025.

ACT Ohio Executive Director Matt Szollosi called Nov. 5 a strong night for the Ohio building trades, as the hard work his organization put into the election paid off.

“Politics is a tough business – anytime you get the results we achieved on Election night, including 75-78 in the House and 12-12 in the Ohio Senate – you have to feel positive about that,” he said.

Szollosi stressed the importance of ACT Ohio Board members and building trades members who realize the need to focus on a bipartisan approach.

“We are blessed to have members that understand the impact state government has on our industry,” he said. “With significant strategic investments and endorsements, a commitment to educating decision-makers and outstanding labor-management cooperation, we have established a ton of credibility on Capital Square with members of both parties.”

Gary McPheron, Government Affairs Director for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, credited the hard work of organized labor, who helped get out the vote. For DC 6, this paid off as every member they endorsed for state representative or state senate was victorious.

“We are always going to need to put in the work building relations in Columbus, but the results were pretty much as expected and no real negative results,” said McPheron.

From a District Council standpoint, DC 6 members worked hard to get the word out on their endorsed candidates.

“We did the standards of contributions, endorsements, social media and had a full assault on the doors during ‘get out the vote,’” said McPheron. “We also had IUPAT General President Jimmy Williams Jr. and other top International staff in Ohio for three days hitting jobsites, union meetings and apprentice classes.”

Both Szollosi and McPheron believe the bipartisan educational approach, combined with work performed on jobsites across the state by building trades members, has paid dividends for the union construction industry.

“We have the best skilled workers in Ohio,” Szollosi said. “By taking the approach we’ve taken, the political environment in Ohio has stabilized, and our contractors are competing on a level playing field. By delivering world-class results for the customer, our members prove time and time again that the building trades provide the best possible value for the lowest possible price.”

McPheron noted how the coalition has paid off by preventing bad legislation from becoming law and hurting the industry, while helping to keep pro-industry legislation on the books.

“Our holy grail of protecting Project Labor Agreements, Prevailing Wages and preventing So-Called ‘Right to Work’ has been effective,” he said.

By reaching out to elected officials and candidates on both sides of the aisle, the building trades bipartisan support has allowed Ohio’s Union construction industry to thrive, while it has struggled in some neighboring states who have seen So-Called “Right to Work” implemented and Prevailing Wage laws repealed.

If Ohio had only focused on Democratic party candidates and elected officials, there is a strong possibility that the outcome would have been different.

“Not only ACT Ohio, but the IUPAT has practiced partisanship for years,” McPheron said. “I don’t like to speculate but no question it would look different.”

This bipartisan model is one McPheron believes all states should consider.

“It takes public servants of both parties who are willing to listen and learn about the unionized trades,” he explained. “That does not happen in a lot of states, but when it does, the trades must have a solid spokesperson like we do.”

The work done by ACT Ohio and the state building trades, regional councils, District Councils and Local Unions across the state, does not end on Election Night.

“The work never stops,” Szollosi said. “It is of the utmost importance that our crafts and councils continue to build strong relationships with state and local officials regarding our core principles. The trades have a great story to tell, we just have to continue to tell it!”

“We must continue to educate and work with representatives from both parties in partnership with ACT Ohio,” added McPheron.

Szollosi also cautioned about being too complacent based solely on the election results.

“No matter how strong the results, the trades must always remain vigilant against the absurd attacks on unemployment compensation, Prevailing Wage and other bedrock issues,” he said. “In

the short term, the lame-duck session always moves quick, so we have to be on our toes. I would love to see the legislature pass H.B. 327 (E-Verify) and the prompt-pay bill as well.”

The Statehouse results were a bright spot for the building trades on a night where organized labor took a hit at the national level.

Former President Donald Trump defeated current Vice President Kamala Harris to become President. Republicans also took control of the U.S. Senate, due in part to Ohio voters electing businessman Bernie Moreno over Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was endorsed by organized labor.

Additionally, Republicans have a slim lead in the House of Representatives. As of Nov. 11, 16 races were too close to call and no party officially held a majority of seats. Of note, all 10 ACT Ohio-endorsed candidates were either elected or re-elected to serve in the House.

ACT Ohio was also successful in endorsing two of the three Ohio Supreme Court justices who won, as well.